The Half Kind

Chapter Five

The other guys woke up and we had pancakes, sausage, and eggs.  While Damen and I exchanged knowing glances, we acted as though we didn't care for each other.  There seemed to be a silent understanding that nobody can know about me and Damen.  At least not now.

I wondered whether or not I should miss home.  I had never felt loved by the couple who adopted me.  It was as if they adopted me simply for the attention.  None of my friends aside from Pam were really friends.  Now that I think about it, they'd probably throw me under the bus in amy situation, so to speak.

Pam and I were undeniably friends, but we were both... I can't think of a word.  Misguided seemed wrong since my parents didn't guide me.  We hardly ever talked about deep things, in fact only once.

It's safe to say I didn't leave too much behind.

The guys chatted and joked while I sat silently.  They all took a shower and then let me have my go in the bathroom.  Damen produced the duffel bag and discreetly winked at me.  The injection didn't have a needle on the end; he pressed it against my neck and pushed the plunger down and I felt the sticky liquid touch my skin.  I pretended to sleep as he folded me up and put me in the bag.

Hm.  I wondered what that was about.

When he put me in the back of the truck, Damen seemed reluctant to leave me in the back alone.  Right before he could shut the door, he stopped.

"Gary, you can drive.  I'll ride back here and make sure she doesn't try to kick again," Damen instructed.

"Oh, so you get to have her but not us?" Tom retorted.

"It's not like that.  If you value your position in the pack I suggest all of you shut up and follow orders," Damen hissed and I heard footsteps as the others got into the cab.  Damen climbed into the back and securely shut the doors.

"Hey," Damen said, putting a hand on my shoulder, "You can wake up now."

I laughed loudly and sat up, riddled with giggles.  Damen cocked his head.

"What's so funny?"

"You and your gang!  It's like a bad TV show.  Damen and the Misfit Kidnappers.  Or, Grumpy Wolf and Horndogs!" I said and laughed while kicking my feet around.  Damen sat a little seriously for a moment but he began to laugh.

"I'll give you a reason to giggle!" Damen teased and then began to tickle my sides.  I squealed in delight and playfully tried to get away and he crawled after me.  I felt like a small child again as he chased me in the dark.  Finally, after about an hour we both laid down in exhaustion.

"You don't seem to concerned with what they were saying," Damen said.  I shrugged.

"Eh.  After you were drugged with a beer nothing seems to matter," I explained.

"Do you miss home at all?"

"Nah.  My adopted parents sucked and my so called friends were rascals," I said, still trying to catch my breath.

"Phew.  I'm glad," Damen mumbled.

"Teach me about being a werewolf," I demanded.  We both sat up.

"Feel the wolf inside.  The animal.  Transforming now would mean you have to do it regularly from now on," Damen said.  I nodded eagerly.

"Do it with me," I said.  He nodded.

"Your wolf is ready to come out.  You being a Half Kind, you can be any animal you like.  But let's start with the wolf," Damen instructed.  I thought hard about it.

The wolf within.

"I found it.  What next?" I eagerly demanded.

"Feel the transformation.  Your arms turning into legs and paws.  Your tail; feel your body change.  It will be a little painful at first-"

"I don't care."

"-but it gets better."

I slowly started feeling it.  I imagined it at first but then it began.  My skin rippled and a sharp pain dug intoy back but I ignored it.  My hands turned into paws.  I saw Damen doing the same.  When we were finished, I looked at Damen and saw he was a midnight black wolf.  I was the same.

Damen looked into my eyes amd we changed back, he quicker than me.  The pain was still there but less sharp, more dull.  Easier to ignore.

"Wow."

"I knew you'd like it," Damen said with a grin.  I felt like I had unlocked more senses.  I could smell Damen's unique scent that identified him as a werewolf and my mate.  The mate smell was strong and almost dizzying in a good way.  The dark didn't seem dark anymore-I couldn't see everything, but it was as if candles had been lit in the dark space.  I could hear much better, like the sound of the tires against the pavement or water in the ditches next to the road.  A slight flutter as some leaves hit the top of the truck.

I somehow knew then that life was changing more than I thought before.